Canine life vest with top dorsal fin

ABSTRACT

A pet life vest with a top dorsal fin is a safety floatation device for canines. The apparatus is comprised of two primary pieces; the life vest portion and the dorsal fin portion. Both portions contain internal closed cell structure floatation material and are flexible and form fitting. The life vest portion acts as a floatation device; the dorsal fin aids in floatation and visibility while also acting as a convenient handle to allow the owner easy access at anytime. 
     The apparatus contains three plastic/metal buckles, two running vertically down the middle and one running horizontally at the front. All three buckles are adjustable and thus the entire apparatus can be easily modified to create stability and comfort.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

I. Category of Invention

The present invention applies to the canine safety floatation devicecategory.

II. Background Description

There are an array of canine safety floatation devices created to aid incanine support while swimming All the previous devices do not contain anapparatus that make the canine visible above more than an inch or twoabove water level. This obvious flaw can be very hazardous to the caninewhile swimming in water.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,559,817 B2 issued to Ernest A. Von Zell onMar. 7, 2008 presents a floatation device that when used in water, doesnot increase visibility above the water level.

Other inventions place reflective materials on their devices. Thedrawback to this addition is that the reflective material is not visiblewhile the canine is swimming, as it is submerged beneath the water.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2008/0035076 A1 issued to Wayne EveretteWaterfield on Aug. 14, 2006 presents a floatation device that has areflective design that becomes useless while the canine is in the water.

Another fault in previous devices is the lack of the owners ability andconvenience to grasp the canine in an urgent or dangerous situation.Some previous devices do provide small handles that are always submergedin water and can become more of a liability than a safety feature, asthey can become snag points that would endanger the canine wearing thatdevice.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,052,345 B1 issued to Charles Rowan on Oct.11, 2005 presents a floatation device that would be difficult for theowner to grasp a hold of in an urgent or dangerous situation.

It would be extremely beneficial to implement solutions to these commondevice flaws that would incorporate; A) A dorsal fin apparatus thatremains above water to increase visibility.

B) A top dorsal fin handle that remains substantially above water, thatthe owner can easily access at anytime, while eliminating thepossibility of the device becoming caught or snagged on hazardous orforeign objects. C) A floatation device that aids canines while swimmingand may prevent possible drowning. D) Is comprised of buoyant,comfortable, water-resistant, flexible, durable, safe and economical toproduce for popular use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention enclosed is to providecanines with a safety floatation device that will have an apparatuswhich will aid not only in better visibility, but also in the ownersability to access the canine easily at anytime while eliminating thepossibility of snagging on dangerous objects, while also acting as alife saving safety device.

The present invention is comprised of two main pieces; 1) A main bodypiece comprised of internal closed cell structured foam, that is wornacross the canines back, wraps under the torso and around the chest. Itis secured with two central buckles which attach straps that run fromone side of the canine, wrap beneath the underside of the canine, andattach on the opposing side of the canine. A third buckle runs from oneshoulder of the canine, wraps around the canines chest, and attaches toto canines opposing shoulder. 2) The second main piece is a Top DorsalFin comprised of internal closed cell structured foam to aid infloatation substantially increase the canines visibility to all watervehicles and other hazards while in the water, and to act as aconvenient and easy to grab handle for the owner to access at anytimewhile eliminating any dangerous snag points.

Both pieces work together to create a device that allows a canine toswim in water, and walk on land, safely, comfortably, and unrestricted.

The present invention provides easily adjustable buckles that allow thedevice to contour to the canine bodies length and girth.

The present invention is simple and economical to manufacture, making iteasily accessible to the worldwide market.

The present invention is created from buoyant, durable, light weight,flexible and form-fitting material that supports the canine at alltimes.

The present invention is easily attached and removed, on and off thecanine, making it quick and easy to use.

These objects and materials are combined to create a canine floatationdevice that is safer and more effective to aid canines while swimming ina water environment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a left side perspective view of the canine life vest accordingto one embodiment of the present invention

FIG. 2 is a right side perspective view of the canine life vest as inFIG. 1

FIG. 3 is a partial top perspective view of the canine life vest as inFIGS. 1-2

FIG. 4 is a full top perspective view of the canine life vest as inFIGS. 1-3

FIG. 5 is a full bottom perspective view of the canine life vest as inFIGS. 1-4

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the canine life vest as in FIGS.1-5

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the canine life vest as in FIGS.1-6

FIG. 8 is a view of the closed cell structured foam encapsulated in thecanine life vest as is FIG. 1-7

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

To better understand the present invention, we turn to the drawings,FIG. 1-8.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show side perspective views, of a first embodiment of thepresent invention, which is a canine safety floatation device. Thecanine floatation device generally comprises of two major sections; 3A.the main body piece of the safety vest, and 2E. The top dorsal fin pieceof the safety vest. Both main sections are two pieces of waterresistant, durable synthetic fiber material, that are sewn together toencapsulate pieces of internal closed cell structure foam material FIG.8; FA and FB. These two main components create the buoyant aspects ofthe invention. The dorsal fin FIG. 2E provides the exceptionalvisibility and easy access handle which is free of dangerous snagpoints. The dorsal fin FIG. 2E is sewn into either side of the main bodypiece FIG. 3A. The safety vest is secured to the canine by a series ofstraps and buckles. FIG. 2; 2B1 and 2C2, display the straps that securefrom the FIG. 2 side, wrap beneath the canines stomach and secure to theFIG. 1 side, securing the buckles (shown in FIG. 4; 6A and 6B) to theclips shown in FIG. 1; 1B and 1C. The third strap 2A wraps from theright side of the canines shoulder FIG. 2, wraps around the canineschest, and connects the buckle 4 in FIG. 2 with the clip FIG. 1; 1A onthe opposing shoulder of the canine. The straps are all easilyadjustable and are comprised of water resistant, high strength nylon,and are sewn to the main body pieces 3A and 3B.

Section number 5 found on FIG. 2 is a stomach strap comprised of durablesynthetic fiber material, that is sewn into the side of the main bodypiece shown in FIG. 4; 3A. It has the durable synthetic fiber strapsshown in FIG. 4; 2B1 and 2C2 sewn along it to add comfort and toincrease surface area to the straps to prevent painful rubbing to thecanine.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show top perspective views, of a first embodiment of thepresent invention. FIG. 4 displays the main body pieces 3A and 3B. Italso displays a full view of the stomach strap 5, which wraps beneaththe stomach of the canine and attaches the clips on FIG. 4; 6A and 6Binto the buckles on FIG. 4; 1C and 1B. The buckles are held by thestraps shown in FIG. 4; 2B1 and 2C2. The straps are comprised of waterresistant, high strength nylon and are sewn directly to the stomachstrap shown in FIG. 4; 5.

FIG. 5 shows the beneath perspective view, of a first embodiment of thepresent invention. 3C displays the bottom piece of the main bodyportion, it is made of water resistant durable synthetic fiber material(nylon) and is sewn to the top portion of the main body portion shown inFIG. 3; 3A and 3B. It displays the stomach strap described in FIGS. 3and 4. It also shows the beneath view of the chest strap with buckleattached, 2A and 4.

FIG. 6 shows the rear perspective view, of a first embodiment of thepresent invention. It displays the dorsal fin 2E, the main body piece 3Aand 3B, the stomach strap 5, the vinyl straps 2C and 2C2, along with thebuckle 6B and the clasp 1C.

FIG. 7 shows the front perspective view, of a first embodiment of thepresent invention. I displays the dorsal fin 2E, the main body piece 3Aand 3B, the stomach strap 5, the vinyl straps 2B1 and 2A, along with thebuckles 6A and 4, and the clasps 1A and 1B.

FIG. 8 shows the internal closed cell structured foam pieces FA and FB.FA is encapsulated within the dorsal fin portion 2E, and FB isencapsulated within the main body piece shown in FIG. 3; 3A and 3B.

The above-described invention provides proper buoyancy, support,durability, safety, and visibility to prevent water related accidentsthat may cause injury or death to a canine while in a water environment.The addition of the buoyant dorsal fin makes for excellent visibilityabove the water to provide safety to the canine from water vehicles andother hazards. The dorsal fin also creates a snag-free handle for theowner to easily access at any time. The safety floatation device withtop dorsal fin is economical and simple to manufacture, making it easilyaccessible to the worldwide market.

Having presented the preferred embodiment of the present invention, itis to be understood that there will be others in the canine safety fieldthat will practice similar concepts, but may not set forth thespecifications set forth in the present invention, device descriptions,and claims.

1. A canine life vest with top dorsal fin comprising; a canine safetyvest for suspending a canine while in a water environment, the main bodypiece and dorsal fin being made of water-resistant materials, attachedto the canines side by two adjustable durable synthetic straps thatconnect to buckles on the canines opposing side, a third adjustabledurable synthetic strap that connects from one of the canines shoulders,to a buckle on the opposing shoulder of the canine, all three bucklescontaining quick release connectors to allow quick and easyattachment/detachment; and a top dorsal fin to substantially increasevisibility and buoyancy at all times above the water, and create aneasy, accessible, snag-free handle; and a closed cell foam insert,encapsulated inside both the safety vest and the dorsal fin, to providea buoyancy aid, and support for the canine.